Are you looking for the best touch screen radio for your vehicle? In this article I have reviewed the top options on the market today and review the top touch screen stereo picks.
Updating your car can make the driving experience more enjoyable. If you have never considered replacing your old radio, then it’s time to think about the benefits that you’ll enjoy when you install the best touch screen radio.
You will not regret upgrading after you see all the amazing features available.
Check out the handy quick list below for price and customer reviews for our picks, or read on for the full reviews:
- BOSS Audio BV9364B Car Stereo 6.2″ Touch Screen
- ATOTO A6 Double Din Android Car Navigation Stereo with Dual Bluetooth
- Pioneer AppRadio 4 SPH-DA120 6.2″ Touchscreen Smartphone Receiver
- Kenwood 6.2″ Bluetooth Touchscreen Android Variable Color Illumination Car Stereo
- Pioneer MVH-200EX Double Din Bluetooth in Dash Digital Media Car Radio
Table of Contents
How to Choose a Touch Screen Radio
By carefully considering the different features that you can find in these stereos, you can be sure to love your new touch screen radio.
It’s important to make sure that you consider a few major attributes so that you will be able to get the most use out of your radio.
The first thing to consider is smartphone integration. Many new radios will allow you to use apps with your phone so that your new radio is compatible.
Many new radios can do a lot more than simply play music, they can also offer you GPS navigation so that you can get to where you are going on time and without getting lost. This frees you from having to use your phone’s GPS.
Look for one that offers traffic reporting if you are worried about navigating larger cities during rush hour.
You also need to consider the size of your new radio, as well as its power.
The size of the face is important so that you can easily make your selections when you are driving in the car, but it’s also a good idea to consider whether or not you want physical controls, as well.
While these may seem unnecessary, they can allow you to make adjustments to your music safely when you are on the interstate.
Touch Screen Radio Top Advantages
Not only will your new radio look great when you replace your old one with a touchscreen, but you can enjoy the large display.
A big screen makes it easier to reach information about songs you are listening to.
Additionally, most radios offer Bluetooth connectivity so that you can connect with your phone, which I think is a great feature.
This will let you instantly see information about who is calling you so that you don’t have to fumble for your phone, which can be dangerous and even illegal in some states.
GPS navigation on your large touchscreen radio is much easier to follow than on a phone screen.
In addition, you won’t have to worry about looking down at your phone while driving.
Finally, you can enjoy other advantages, such as dual-zone listening so that your backseat passengers don’t have to listen to the same thing that you are listening to in the front. With convenient stereo controls our top picks boast great design, and even the ability to hook up a camera so that you can see when you are backing up.
What to Look for When Shopping for Your Radio
The first thing that you will want to do before purchasing a new touch screen radio is to measure how much space you have, as you do not want to buy one that is too large.
Most radios are seven inches wide, but they come in two different heights, so choosing the right one is important.
It’s also important to consider the various features that the radio offers so you can choose one that you will enjoy using.
If you are interested in a certain feature, such as GPS, you can easily narrow down your available options.
How to Install Your New Touch Screen Radio
I find that correctly installing your new radio is easier than you may think and will allow you to start using it right away.
Once you have all the equipment and tools that you need, you can begin by removing screws that secure the radio and dashboard.
Pull out the old head, removing any extra screws as you work.
After you disconnect the wires behind your old radio and pull the radio from the wire harness you can disconnect the antenna connection.
Connect the antenna to your new radio and also connect all of your wires.
Finally, check the connections by turning on the car to make sure that everything works before you screw in the radio.
If you have any doubts about your ability to install your new touch screen radio, then you will want to hire a professional to do the work for you.
If you have any doubts, this will save you from dealing with a broken or damaged radio.
While it is fairly easy to replace a stock radio with your new one, if you are replacing a radio that wasn’t stock, then the person who worked on your car before may have made a mistake.
In this case you will greatly benefit from getting help from a professional.
Other Considerations
While touch screen technology has advanced a lot in recent years, there are still some problems that you can run into.
These problems include a screen not being properly calibrated, scratches damaging the screen.
You will have to watch out for dirt and grime collecting on the screen and making it difficult for the screen to respond.
Best Touch Screen Radio
This is a powerful touch screen radio that allows you to enjoy both AM/FM radio, as well as music from the built-in MP3/CD/DVD player. Make your own playlists and listen to them via USB, SD, or auxiliary inputs, and even stream music through apps such as Pandora and Spotify. Take advantage of hands-free calling so you can be safe on the road.
Pros
● Offers powerful Bluetooth connectivity
● Provides media playback
● Offers a number of inputs
● Can be connected to a rearview camera
● Allows you to use functions on your steering wheel to control the music
● Has a USB port for playback and for charging
Cons
● Incomplete instructions
● Reception can be weak at times
● Bluetooth can be spotty and won’t always connect to the phone
● Volume can be difficult to control
Enjoy a high-quality screen that is designed to offer a maximum brightness so that you can easily see what you are doing when you operate your radio. This radio features a number of inputs and outputs so that you can connect your music to the radio without problems. Additionally, you can easily cast your phone’s display to the screen with Wifi.
Pros
● Provides continuous firmware updates to take care of bugs
● Has a full 7” display
● Provides GPS monitoring with Google Maps already installed
● Features high-quality built-in microphone to improve your phone call quality
● Three USB interfaces
Cons
● Loudspeaker is very low, making it difficult to talk on the phone
● Small bugs aren’t always addressed quickly
● Can take up to 30 seconds to start up
● Reverse camera doesn’t work until the entire system is operating
Being able to call hands free will allow you to remain much safer when you are driving your car, and while this radio has a smaller screen than others on the market, it is very bright and easy to read. Installation is easy and regular updates prevent the radio from becoming buggy.
Pros
● Allows hands-free calling, as well as audio streaming
● Apple CarPlay for iPhone 5 or later
● Compatible with MirrorLink, as well as Siri Eyes Free
● Comes complete with the GPS antenna
● Large and bright display is easy to use during the day
● Offers attractive graphics
Cons
● The touch screen isn’t very responsive and sometimes needs to be pushed multiple times to open an app
● There aren’t updates through Bluetooth
● Doesn’t always register a phone when it is plugged in
● Doesn’t connect correctly when steering wheel controls
The audio you’ll enjoy with this radio is fantastic and will greatly improve the way that your stock speakers sound. Additionally, there are a number of EQ presets that can help you customize your sound when driving. This radio has an interface that is easy to use, and since it is so intuitive, there isn’t a lot of downtime when figuring out how to operate the radio.
Pros
● Offers direct iPhone and iPod control
● 800 x 480 resolution
● Plays both AM/FM radio and DVD/CDs
● Pandora control with Android and iPhone
● Bluetooth offers audio streaming
● Included microphone is powerful enough to pick up sound from far away
● Features built-in internal amp
Cons
● Bluetooth doesn’t sync regularly
● Updating doesn’t fix bugs
● Doesn’t always sync will with iPhones
● Doesn’t always display song information
This is a powerful and attractive touch screen radio that is easy to install, easy to operate, and connects quickly to your Bluetooth. This means that you can enjoy hands-free calling so that you are not putting yourself or others in danger when you’re on the road (or getting a ticket). Additionally, this radio from Pioneer can connect to Apple products with an optional USB cable.
Pros
● Includes wiring harness, cables, and manual
● Android music support will automatically connect to your Android phone
● Enjoy playing audio and videos from your smartphone
● Unit can be attached to a backup camera
● Very easy to install
Cons
● Does not play CDs or DVDs
● Bluetooth has common interface issues
● USB drive does not always recognize the storage that you are using
● Does not support FLAC
● To restart the radio you have to turn the entire car off and on
● Touch screen isn’t as responsive as other models
If you’re looking for a touch screen radio that is easy to use, fast, and simple to install I recommend the BOSS Audio Car Stereo. This bad boy does everything you want in a straight forward no nonsense manner. With upgrades including GPS and cameras you really can’t ask for more.
Ultimately, any of our top picks is a great choice, let us know in the comments which touchscreen radio you chose.
Fred is the Ready Zeal owner and editor. He has been passionately pursuing all things emergency preparation since working alongside his grandfather as a boy growing up in the Midwest. When not working on the family homestead he can be found brewing coffee and reading a good book or backpacking in the wilderness. Contact Fred at fred@readyzeal.com